Out of the Closet, and Into the School

When we first were talked too about working in the schools, we were warned about sharing any private information. Not only did this create an unprofessional relationship between the teacher and the student but it opened up the teacher to all types of commentary; whether it be positive or negative. But what happens when you are working with a class every Monday through Friday for a whole year? Do things change? Should you admit your true sexuality or just go with the flow of assumption that you are heterosexual? These scenarios are perfectly depicted in the reading "Speaking the Unspeakable in Forbidden Places: Addressing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality in the Primary School" by Allan, Atkinson, Brace, De Palma, and Hemingway.
     In the reading it mentions are group called "No Outsiders". What this group does is have a group of trained professionals, whether they are teachers, professors or anyone else go into schools and then record their experiences. In it there was the story of the teacher and her lesbian version of Cinderella and another teacher who came out to all of her art students, and also the idea of "openness" in the staff room.
     Now while reading about this all I could think about was my won personal experience. While growing up I had only experienced "straight" teachers, that is until I went to High School. In my eyes teachers were sort of "straight until proven otherwise" and this would be the time I would be proven otherwise. I had heard rumors of a gay teacher working in our school, But like I said I thought it was a rumor. I figured someone didn't like him, or he had been misunderstood or something. Because I just couldn't believe that any teacher would tell his class he was gay. But on that that first day of chemistry sophomore year, when I walked in and one of the first things out of my teachers mouth was "Yes, I am gay. And yes, I am Jewish" I was Astonished. I wasn't turned off or uneasy, but instead I was intrigued. I thought it was crazy how comfortable he was with his sexuality. He never seemed worried about what people were saying about him, or how people were viewing him. But instead he embraced his lifestyle and wanted everyone to know about it.
     Now the thing that I found most interesting about sophomore year in chemistry wasn't the use of Avogadro's number in measuring molar mass's or the correct way to use a Bunsen Burner, but instead the idea that a simple prefix such as homo or hetero doesn't define you as a person let alone a teacher. And even though many teachers tend to keep quiet about their sexualities whether it be of fear or privacy you can never assume that everyone you meet is going to be straight, and you can never assume that straight is better.
      In the following link http://www.theguardian.com/education/2012/nov/26/gay-teachers-homophobia-stonewall-research it tells various stories of different homosexual teachers and their concerns and experiences.